5 Major Pitfalls of Piecemeal Energy Management Initiative

Article By: Zainuddin Abd Manan, Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi, Lim Jeng Shiun

Professors in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) & Founders of Optimal Systems Engineering Sdn Bhd.

Read more useful articles
Available Courses

About the Pitfalls of a Piecemeal Energy Management Initiative

For over three decades, we have advanced the mission to create sustainable societies through UTM-PROSPECT and OPTIMISE in our roles as developer of innovative solutions, products and programs; professional practitioners and coaches, champions of education and social activists spreading public awareness on energy and resource conservation.  Our lifelong and life-wide pursuit of sustainable development enabled us to engage world leading organisations, scientists, scholars, professionals and distinguished experts from across disciplines and nationalities worldwide.

We have been particularly committed in advocating a Holistic Approach for Energy Management and encouraged organisations to look at the Big Picture of Energy Audit (See Article: Consider the Big Picture).  

In this space, we feel compelled to share our practical implementation experiences that are backed by our rigorous, internationally validated research on key elements that constitute a comprehensive and holistic approach toward achieving impactful outcomes of energy management initiatives.  

The 5 major pitfalls of a piecemeal energy management initiative:

(Please click the links provided to find out more on how each pitfall could be addressed)

  1. Energy audit and energy managers covering only electrical energy may miss thermal energy conservation measures as the number one industrial energy saving opportunity.  
  2. Energy Managers shall need to be equipped with the capability to manage a facility’s electrical and thermal energy consumptions.  In Malaysia, the Registered Electrical Energy Manager(REEM) shall assume the role of a Registered Energy Manager once the anticipated Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) is enacted.
  3. Industrial energy audits that is confined to only a facility supply side, i.e. boilers and steam systems may only address symptoms of energy loss and have limited impact.  Pinch Analysis would be a critical enabler for auditors to address both the energy supply and demand side and maximise energy savings.
  4. Energy conservation initiative cannot be sustained without implementing a comprehensive Energy Management System (EMS).
  5. Energy feasibility projects are useful for forecasting the amount and value of energy savings.  The savings can only be verified by employing a rigorous Measurement & Verification procedure.

Tags: energy management initiative, energy audit, energy manager, ems, thermal energy, registered electrical energy manager, reem, ems, pinch analysis, energy saving, electrical energy, thermal energy, eeca, energy efficiency and conversation act, emeer 2008, boiler, steam systems, energy supply, thermal conservation, industrial energy audit, meaasurement & verification, registered energy manager, energy conservation, sustainable development, energy management information system, energy commission, energy managers training centre, Zainuddin Abd Manan, Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi, Lim Jeng Shiun

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn

Table of Contents

More about Optimal Systems Engineering

Optimal Systems Engineering Sdn Bhd (OPTIMISE) is an Energy Service Company (ESCO) registered under Malaysia Energy Commission (@Suruhanjaya Tenaga). OPTIMISE has more than 30 years experience providing services covering electrical and thermal energy audit. Our consultants are Registered Electrical Energy Managers (REEM), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), ISO50001 Lead Auditor, Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), Accredited Energy Measurement & Verification Professional (AEMVP) and Certified HRDF Trainers with professional backgrounds in process/thermal energy engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.

We provide a range of services from Energy Audit, Registered Electrical Energy Manager (REEM) services, Measurement and Verification (M&V), Pinch Analysis study involving process and utility-wide thermal energy recovery analysis, Energy Management System (EMS), Solar Thermal Energy Analysis as well as carbon and sustainability reporting (add a link to the respective pages). We provide various professional training (online and face-to-face) for energy managers, facility managers and engineers involved in energy analysis, energy management and consultation works.

Recommended articles to read. See all articles here

5 Major Pitfalls of Piecemeal Energy Management Initiative 2

Registered Electrical Energy Manager (REEM)

January 10, 2021 4:17 pm

Article By: Zainuddin Abd Manan, Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi, Lim Jeng Shiun Professors in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) & Founders of Optimal Systems Engineering Sdn Bhd. Read more useful articles Available Courses “I got a

Read More »